Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: LORENA NOBRE CORTEZ

Oxidative stress and the development of the auditory cortex in rats model of autism: effect of Lidibia Ferrea on the formation of perineuronal net

autism, auditory cortex, development

The critical period is a postnatal time in which cortical development is highly susceptible to plasticity induced by environmental sensory stimuli. The events that occur during the opening and closing of the critical period then have important impacts on the formation of cortical sensory processing maps, and also on sensory perception in adult life. It has been described in the literature that the opening of the critical period of postnatal development is characterized by the beginning of maturation of parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons in the sensory cortex. This maturation begins when components of the extracellular matrix begin to surround PV+ interneurons, forming perineuronal networks that stabilize the synapses of these neurons, reduce plasticity dependent on sensory experience and protect PV+ cells from oxidative stress. Currently, it is suggested that the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves changes in PV+ cells and perineuronal networks due to increased oxidative stress, which would result from modifications in the local conditions necessary to initiate and close the critical period of sensory cortical areas. ASD, in turn, is a neurodevelopmental disorder clinically characterized by communication deficits, lack of social interaction and repetitive behaviors with restricted interest. This research monograph suggests that auditory perception deficits originating in the primary auditory cortex (A1) in individuals with ASD may be related to failures in the opening or closing of the critical period for the spectral development of A1, as a consequence of oxidative stress of the cells PV+ and impairment in the development of the perineuronal net. Therefore, it will describe the effects of intraperitoneal administration of Libidia Ferrea extract, during the critical period of A1 spectral development, on the development of perineuronal.